Selling a car in North Carolina requires completing some paperwork, including a signed title. A bill of sale is only required if selling through a dealer.

Written by Melanie Reiff

Reviewed by Carrie Adkins

Updated on Jun 27, 2022

Table of Contents

What you need to sell a car in North Carolina
Getting a pre-sale inspection
Documenting the sale
Signing the title over
Reporting the sale
Finding affordable car insurance
FAQs about selling a car

Load full table of contents

Selling a car in North Carolina requires the completion of a signed title and sometimes a bill of sale, both of which must be notarized. Your car will also have to pass an emissions inspection in 22 counties.

The process for selling a car can seem daunting, but it’s a fairly simple process once you understand what’s required. Each state sets its own policies, so it’s important to do some research beforehand.

If you are not compliant with your state’s laws, you could be liable for the vehicle—even after it’s out of your possession.

To make things easier, the

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What you need to sell a car in North Carolina

To sell a car in North Carolina, you’ll be required to complete:

North Carolina Certificate of Title (or, if you don’t have one, a duplicate title form)

Signatures of the seller, buyer, and lienholder (if applicable), signed in the presence of a notary

Bill of sale signed in the presence of a notary

Proofs of ownership or transfer of ownership

Odometer certification statement, unless the vehicle is more than 10 years old

Damage disclosure statement for cars 5 years old or newer

Emissions testing

If there is a lien on the vehicle, you will need to obtain a lien release from your lender once you have completed the terms of the lien. You cannot sell a car with an outstanding lien in North Carolina.

Getting a pre-sale inspection

Twenty-two counties in North Carolina require cars to pass an emissions inspection before they can be sold. This applies to most vehicles, but there are some exemptions, including:

Cars less than three years old

Cars from model year 1995 or older

Diesel-operated cars

Additionally, most cars are required to pass an annual safety inspection, but cars 35 years or older are exempt.

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Documenting the sale

Once you have identified a buyer, it’s a good idea to complete a bill of sale. Though this is only required if you are selling your car to a dealership, it’s strongly recommended that you complete a bill of sale for your records regardless. The bill of sale should include:

Vehicle registration number

Make, model, and year of the car

North Carolina Title number

Vehicle identification number (VIN)

Odometer reading at the time of sale

Sale date and price

Name and signature of the seller

Name and signature of the buyer

If you are selling a car to a dealership, the dealer will provide you with a bill of sale. This will need to be signed in front of a public notary.

Signing the title over

To officially transfer ownership of the car, you need to sign the title over to the buyer at a North Carolina DMV.

The seller will need to fill out the back of the title, with their name, address, and date of sale. The seller also will have to complete odometer disclosure and damage disclosure documents if required.

If the title has been lost or stolen, the seller will need to fill out a stolen title application to replace the document.

Once the seller has completed their portion, the buyer will also have to sign the title with their information and complete a Title Application Form (MVR-1). Both the title and application form will need to be notarized.

Reporting the sale

To report the sale of a car in North Carolina, the seller needs to fill out this

form

in the presence of a notary and turn it in at the DMV.

Finding affordable car insurance

If you’ve recently purchased a car, you’re going to need the right car insurance policy. The car insurance broker app

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